'The Iron Lady': Margaret Thatcher Family Refused a Screening Invite

'The Iron Lady' has already stirred controversy, this despite (almost) universal praise for Meryl Streep's portrayal of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher. In November, THR reported that former colleagues and friends of Thatcher were unhappy with Streep's performance, stating it was unflattering. But what about Thatcher's family members -- are they unhappy with Meryl's acting, too? According to director Phyllida Lloyd, maybe: the Thatchers were invited to an early screening of the film, but turned it down.

"They were the first people we invited to see the finished film," Lloyd told BBC Radio 4. "They didn't take up our offer ... so we are not actually sure whether they have seen it or not."

Rejecting the invite doesn't necessarily mean the family has jumped on the anti-'Iron Lady' bandwagon, so it's important to take this news with a grain of salt. Regardless, the detractors who have gone public aren't preventing Streep from receiving a ton of early Oscar buzz.

The Iron Lady' is out in theaters now, so you can judge Meryl's performance for yourself.